2022-02-03 Tree Board MinutespF E D4,
Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board
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APPROVED MEETING NOTES 4,gqo
February 3, 2022 — 6:00 p.m. via Zoom
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT
Suzanne Juer ensen
Deb Powers
Bill Phipps
Donna Murphy
Janelle Cass
Ross Dimmick
Bill Grant
Wendy Kliment
Andy Lon
BOARD MEMBER(S) ABSENT:
ELECTED OFFICIAL PRESENT
n/a
Councilmember Laura Johnson
NOTETAKER
Deb Powers
CALL TO ORDER:
Meeting called to order by Deb Powers.
ROLL CALL:
All board members were present and briefly introduced themselves to the rest of the board.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Deb suggested the order of the draft agenda be changed to address New Business Item 7a
Election, before the Tree Board moves forward with conducting any business. Moved and approved. Bill asked for an
update on the status of the tree canopy assessment and tree code amendments (added to Old Business). Suzanne asked
to discuss the tree equity score tool (added to New Business).
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: There was no meeting in January 2022. The December 2, 2021 meeting notes, taken by
Councilmember Buckshnis were not approved, since everyone was not aware of which version to approve. The
December meeting minutes will be included with the February 2022 minutes for approval at the March meeting.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS: Barbara from the Interfaith Climate Action Group spoke about being inspired by the donated
tree planted along the tunnel under the freeway. Barbara expressed she would like to make a donation to the Tree Board
and suggested the Board conduct a seedling distribution event or program.
7a 2022 Election: Donna and Suzanne were elected to share the Chairperson position as Co -Chairs and Janelle was
voted the Vice Chair. There was consensus to referring to this position as "Co -Chair Elect."
OLD BUSINESS:
a. Summary of ongoing events: Edmonds in Bloom (July), Tree ID signs (discussion moved under new business),
Farmers Market takes place on one day in summer (brochures, both, tree giveaway), Earth Day with Parks (April)
where the TB participates in a restoration project and sponsors snacks and Arbor Day in the fall to meet annual
Tree City USA criteria, possibly earn Growth Awards.
b. Edmonds Tree Walk (it was noted this has not taken place regularly in the past and is new business)
c. Obtaining trees for the Farmers Market — Bill noted the board should secure a source for giveaway trees and
volunteered to research nurseries.
d. City Council presentation: Donna usually puts together a PPT and give an annual presentation to Council per
code requirement usually in March/April. Needs photos from everyone. Did not know how the presentation got on
the Council agenda as Kernen typically handles that. Deb said she'll check into the logistics for packet prep and
will coordinate with Donna.
e. Added agenda item: tree canopy assessment update — Deb reported that the consultant developing the
canopy assessment will be presenting their first draft of the report to staff sometime in the next few weeks. The
general sense of what she understood from meeting with the consultant that there hadn't been significant trends
in canopy loss since the last assessment. Bill commented that the current analysis was not performed using the
same technology as the prior analysis.
f. Added agenda item: tree code amendment status —Deb said that tree code amendments to ECDC 23.10 were
on the Development Services Work Plan for 2022, but it was unclear when that process would start.
NEW BUSINESS:
a. Election of Chairs (moved above Old Business)
b. Budget for 2022 — It was discussed that the TB will be provided a $4,000 budget for goods/supplies in 2022.
There is no funding for professional services since that had been previously budgeted for a consultant to organize
and submit Edmonds' Tree City USA application. Suzanne asked whether the Tree Fund could be used to
support Tree Board endeavors, reported that it had a $212,000 balance per the 2020 approved budget
documents found online. The Board also asked, has the 2021 Tree Board budget been used entirely? Deb said
that (Development Services Director) Susan McLaughlin is scheduled to attend the next TB meeting and could
answer those questions.
c. Development of suggested reading list — Donna is procuring a reading list for Board members, including The
Overstory, Silent Spring, etc.
d. Efforts to increase citizen awareness and foster further interaction with other ecologically -oriented
groups — There was general agreement that the Board wants to increase opportunities for collaboration with
other like-minded organizations. Suzanne raised that she was developing a list of resources and links for listing
on the Tree Board webpage. Andy asked if there was webpage representation. Deb mentioned there are 3 and
that any new web content is subject to City standards.
e. Statement in support of urban forest canopy (endorsement by the League of Women Voters) - there was a
discussion on whether the endorsement would be within the Board's parameters. Suzanne suggested that Deb
check with Director McLaughlin. The Board elected to sign the letter of endorsement if there was no conflict of
interest or other objection as soon as possible, since the deadline would pass before the next TB meeting.
f. Discuss Tree Board funding and potential grant opportunities — funding was discussed under New Business
item b. The potential grant opportunity discussion referred to the WA State Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) grant requests for proposals, currently open. Deb discussed her prior experience with obtaining DNR
grants and said DNR is looking for well -supported eligible project proposals and that it's an annual grant cycle.
g. Added agenda item: Tree Equity Score Tool — Suzanne and Bill conveyed what the tool is. Deb conveyed how
Edmonds might be involved with its further development. Suzanne mentioned there may be a link to the tool from
the Tree Board website. Bill felt the data was not particularly useful, noting the consistent scoring throughout
Edmonds.
h. Added agenda item: new potential projects: Edmonds Tree Walk (Suzanne) for an even to chat about
interesting facts/history about trees. Add to (replace?) interpretive signage in Sierra Park for individual trees. It's
the only visually impaired interpretive signed park in the US. There is a need to replace plants/trees... maybe the
Tree Board can help with that? Who is the contact for Parks? Deb suggested the Tree Board have a Field Trip!
TREE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS — there was a brief discussion about Tree Board member roles and staff roles.
There was a brief discussion that it would be a good idea to develop a shared drive or other digital filing system so that
documents could be saved there and accessed by the Board. Deb suggested an organized list would be helpful in
keeping track of projects and keeping it in a shared folder would be ideal. The ongoing board members expressed that a
meeting Notetaker has been "traditionally" a rotating role. The group elected Ross as the March 3 meeting notetaker and
for a notetaker schedule to be developed at the March meeting. Andy suggested the Board follow parliamentary
procedures when making decisions.
ADJOURN:
Next Meetings: March V, 2022